Scale



l Oct. 19 1926.

1,603,381 A w. E. FlNcH ET AL SCALE Filed Nov. 7. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet l @51, Mmm /Mw mmm @mugs oct. 19 ,'1926. 1,603,381

w. E. FINCH ETZAL scALE l F-iled Nov. '7, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet E Oct. 19 192s. 1,603,381

w. E. FlNH ET A1.

1,603,381 W. E. FINCH ETAL SCALE Filed Nov, '7, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7T' 'ff/74 e5- #19M @was Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,603,381 PATENT oFFlcE.

'WILLIS E. FINCH AND "WALTER, F. STIMPSON, OF LOUISVILLE-l, KENTUCKY; SAID FINCH ASSIGNOR TO SAID STIMIPSON.

SCALE.

Application filed November '7, 1921. Serial No'. 513,227.

The invention relates to scales and more particularly to that type known as counter scales, and the invention consists in various features of the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings Figure l is a vertical central section through the scale;

Figure 2 is a plan view with the platform and a portion of the housing removed and the column shown in horizontal section;

Figure 3 is a v-ertical cross section through the column;

Figure 4 is a front elevation;

Figure 5 is a plan view;

Figure G is an enlarged section of a portion of Fig. l;

Figure 7 is a cross-section through the housing; and

Figure 8 is a det-ail of the finger N5 showing the method of adjustment.

As specifically constructed, A is the platform supporting lever, preferably a lever of the third class having the wide portion A to which the fulcrum pivots B are attached, the rearwardly extending arms A2 carrying the platform supporting pivots and lthe Central rearwardly extending arm A3 which connects with the steelyard rod. C is the lower frame and housing member which surrounds the platform lever and which corresponds to the shape thereof. Thus at the front the housing member C is of a width to receive the portion A of the platform lever, including the rearward extensions A2. At the center 'the member C is reduced in width, as indicated at C', merely providing a housing for the rearward extending portion A3 of the lever and at the rear the casing is enlarged at G2 to form a support for the column. D is a complementary housing member arranged above the platform lever, being apertured at D for the passage of the supporting legs E of the platform supporting frame. E. 'lVhen the complementary portions C and D of the housing are placed together, they will completely enclose the platform lever. The lower sec-tion is raised by feet F and therefore the space beneath the frame and above the counter is easily accessible forcleaning.

is the hollow column which is supported upon the portion C2 of the base and which at its upper end is laterally extended at Gr to support the cylinder housing H. Thev column G encloses the steelyard rod I as well as the dash-pot and other accessories and it is preferably made with transparent panels G2, front and rear, through which the enclosed mechanism may be inspected.

Within the cylindrical casing His the weighing and computing cylinder M, this being mounted upon a shaft M journaled in anti-friction bearings at opposite ends of the casing H. The shaft M has mounted thereon centrally thereof the pinion M2 which engages a rack N pendant from the upper end of the rod T5. The lower end of the rack has a rearwardly extending loopshaped weight member N which embraces the rod I5 and serves to yieldably press the rack against the pinion. Thus the movement of the platform lever, which is transmitted by the steelyard rod, will effect a movement of the rack and a rotation of the pinion and cylinder M. y

The platform supporting frame E carries the weighing platform O, this being preferably a glass plate. To hold the platform from tipping, a check rod is provided, thisbeing connected to the rear end of the platform frame and rising vertically therefrom in front of the column G. The upper end of this rod P enters the cylindrical housing H between sections of the` computing cylinder M and at the upper end of the rod P is the rearwardly-extending portion P to which is att-ached the fitting P2 for engaging the forwardly-extending check link P3. The forward end of this linkis att-ached by a fitting P4 to a bifurcated segmental bracket arm Q `mounted on thev column and extending between the cylinders M. Thus the Vcheck rod extends upward to nearly the center ofthe cylinder and by its relatively great length lessens the amount of frictional and lateral oscillation due to the. movement of the platform'.

To hold the rack N from accidental dis-` engagement from the pinion, a finger N5 is arranged to extend in rear of the rack and pinion and between the former and the rod l5. This finger is preferably mounted on an inwardly extending portion Q of theY bracket arm Q and to permit of proper adjustment the finger has a rocker bearing N2 for engaging the member Q and a pair of attachment screws N3 and N4 on opposite sides thereof. Thus byalternately loosening and tightening the screws N3 and N4,

the finger maybe rocked upon its rocker bearing so as to adjust it towards or from the rack bar and the adjustment is such that the finger will normally be out of contact with'th'e rackbar 'and will only serve to prevent disengagement of the. rack teeth from the pinion. Y

The platform lever A is fulcrumed in a yoke member R which is mounted on lugs R', rising vfrom the lower casing member C. R2 are upward extensions of the member R at opposite ends thereof, which carry the bearings for the knife-edged fulcruni pivots. R are upward extensions from the central pertion of the member R which embrace the cross bars A4 of the lever A and support above the same the plate R". On this plate R4 is arranged a level men'iber R5 which is preferably circular in form and engages an aperture in the upper portion D of the level housing, so that the level will be visible from vabove said housing. The level member R5 has the usual transversely arranged level tubes-,and these are visible through the transparent platform and through an aper ture E2 in the platform supporting` frame. The scale is leveled by a vertical adjustment of-y the feet F which are provided with threaded stems that may be raised or lowered by turning.

To support the scale without rocking, a three-point bearing isy desirable, but this does not lafford as great stability as where four points are used. XVe have provided a fourf'point support by placing the legs F under opposite sides of the wide portion of the housing C and two legs beneath the column G. These latter supports are, however, connectedy to an evener lever S which is cen trally 4fulcrumed within the base of the column, as indicated as S, thereby forming in effecta three-'point support. However, stability is obtained by limiting the independent 'movement of the legs F, which are attached to the lever S, yso that a slight tipping of the scale will take up the lost motion and prevent further tipping. f It is usual to provide spring scales with a thermostatically controlled adjustment means Vfor compensating for temperature changes. lVe haveprovided av construction of thermostatic control that is effective in its operation and easily applied to the scale. This consists in a vthermostat T of the expansible chamber type, which is located between the cross bars A4 ofthe platform lever A. As shown, the thermostat comprises a series ofaxially aligned chambers formed of thin metal which are filled with an expansible fluid and hermetically sealed. The forward end of ythis thermostat is rigidly attached to the lever, while the rear end is coupled to a rod T passing` rearward to a channel in the portion A3' of the lever. The rod T Vis attached to an anti-friction car riage T2 which has the pivot T3 connecting with the steelyard rod. Therefore, whenever there is a rise in temperature, there will be a corresponding expansion of the thermostat T, which will carry the pivot T3 rearward, increasing the leverage of the arm A3. On the other hand, a drop in temperature will contract the thermostat T and will decrease the length of the lever arm A3.

For setting the cylinder to the zero point when the platform is without load, provision is made for raising and lowering the yoke K, which anchors the weighing springs J. This consists of a pair of rods U arranged on opposite sides of the springs J and extending from the yoke K downward'into the base. The lower ends of these rods rest upon a bifurcated rocker member V which has a downwardly extending arm V adjacent to the end of a rod V2 which passes centrally beneath the housing member' C to the forward end thereof. The rear end of the rod V2 is threaded and engages a threaded aperture in a lug V3, while the forward end is swiveled in ya lug V4 and is slotted to be turned by a screw-driver. The turning of the rod V2 in one direction will move it rearward and by engaging the arm V will tilt the rocker V and raise the rods U. A rotation of the rod V2 in the opposite directien willA produce the opposite effect and the lowering of the rods U. The movement of the rods U will raise or lower the yoke K and springs J, thereby effecting an adjust ment of the cylinder M.

Variation in temperature will not only vary the tension of the weighing springs, but will also effect the adjustment of the indicator. This is compensated for by forming the rods U of a metal such as brass, which, by its differential coefficient of expansion, will act as a. thermostat. The fact that the rods extend from the base to the cylinder housing gives a sufficient length to produce the compensation without the use of levers or other 'complications andl this greatly simplifies the construction.

What we claim 'as our invention is :M

l. In a scale, the combination with a hollow base, of a platform supporting lever within said base, a column rising from said base, a spring within said column connected to said lever, a vertically adjustable anchor for said spring, an arm connected to said anchor, a rockable member within said base for actuating said arm to adjust said anchor.

a rod in said column engaging said anchor at one end and extending downward through sai-d column into said base for engaging said rockable member, and a rod extending to the forward end of said base for operating said rockable member.

2. In a scale, the combination with a hol` low base, of a platform lever within said base, a hollow column extending upward neoaasliV from said base, a weighing spring within said column connected to said lever, an anchor for said weighing spring, and an adjusting mechanism for said anchor compris` ing a pair of rods within said column on which said anchor is supported, a bell crank lever for supporting the lower end of said rods, and means operable from outside said base for -adjusting said bell crank lever.

3. In a scale, the combination with a base, of a platform supporting lever thereon, a housing column extending upward from said base, a weighing spring within said hollow column and connected to said lever, an anchor for said weighing spring and an adjusting mechanism for said anchor comprising a pair of rods on opposite sides of said weighing spring and lever on which said anchor 4is supported, a rockable member for supporting the lower ends of said rods, means operable from outside said base for adjusting saidroclrable member to raise or lower said rods, said rods having a coeflicient of expansion differing from that of said column to automatically compensate for temperature changes.

l. In a scale, the combination with a base, of a platform supporting lever thereon, a hollow column extending upward from said base, a weighing spring within said hollow column, an anchor for said weighing spring, a rod extending from said base to said anchor for vertically adjusting the saine, said rod having a coeliicient of expansion differing from that of said column to automatically con'ipensaten for tempe lature changes. v

5. In a scale, the combination with a base, of a platform lever supported thereon, a hollow7 column exten-ding upward from said base, a steelyard rod connected to saidlever and extending upward within said column, a weighing spring withinsaid column connected to said steelyard rod, an anchor for said weighing spring, an adjusting means for said anchor' comprising a pair of rods on opposite sides of said spring and steelyardA rod having their upper ends engaging' said anchor, and means on said base engaging the vlower ends of said rods for vertically adjusting the same.

6. In a scale,- the combination with a hol? low base, Vof a platform supporting lever therein, a hollow column risingY from said base, a steelyard rod connected to said lever and extending upward within said hollow column, a weighing spring connected to said steelyard rod, a yoke forming an anchor forl'the upperlend of said spring, a pairlof rods on opposite sides of said steelyard rod and spring having their upper ends Vengaging said yoke, and an adjustable member for supporting the lower ends of said ro'dscom prising a Vrocker having laterally extending arms for engaging saidrods, a vertically extending arm, and an adjustable member for engaging said vertically extending arm operable from outside said hollow base.

`'7. In a scale, the combination with a base, of a platform lever supported thereon, a hollow column extending upward from said base,a steelyard 'rod connected to said lever and extending upward within said hollow column, sai-d steelyard rod comprising a pair of parallel cross-connected bars having hollow upper portions, and a pair of weighing springs extending within said hollow portions and connected to said bars.

8. In a scale, the combination with a base, of a platform lever supported thereon, a hollow column extending upward from said base, a steelyard rod connected to said lever and extending upward within said hollow column, said steelyard rod coniprising a pair of connected parallel bars having laterally offset portions and hollow portions above said lateral offset, a pair of weighing springs extending within said hollow portions and connected to said bars, and a dash-pot connected to said steelyard rod for retarding thev movement thereof arranged within the laterally offset portion.

9. In a scale, the combination with a hase, of a platform lever supported thereon, a hollow column extending upward from said base, a steelyard rod connected to said lever4 and extending upward within said hollow column, said steelyard rod comprising afpair of connected parallel bars'having laterally oiii'set portions and hollow portions above said lateral. offset, a vpair of weighing springs extending within said hollow portions and connected to said bars, a dash-pot secured to said column and.arrangedwvithin the laterally offset portion a piston 'within said dash-pot connected to said steelyard rod an anchor for the upper ends of said springs, and adjustment means for said anchor comprising a pair of rods on opposite sides lof said parallel bars and ldash-pot, and means located on said base for vertically adjusting said rods. Y

l0. In a' scale, the combination with a'base and a plattform lever supported thereon, of a hollow column rising from said base, a cylinder housing at the upper end of said hollow column, a bifurcated cylinder journaled within said cylinder housing, a pinion for said cylinder between the furcations thereof, a -steelyard rod connected to said lever and extending upward within said hollow column,'a weighing spring connected to said steelyard rod, a rod connected to said steelya-rd rod and extending upward beyond'said weighing spring and-pinion, a rack pivotally attached to` the upper endV of said rod and depending therefron'i, said racl'r intermeshing with] said pinion, and a loop shaped weight arm extending rearward from said rack embracing said rod and serving to hold said rack in engagementwith said pinion.

1l. In a scale, the combination with a base, of a platform lever supported thereon, a hollow column rising from said base, a cylinder housing at the upper end of said hollow column, a bifurcated cylinder within said cylinder housing', a shaft on 'which said bifurcated cylinder is mounted, a pinion on said shaft between the furcations of said cylinder, a steelyard rod connected to said lever and extending upward within said column, said `steelyard rod comprising a pair of spaced yand cross-connected parallel bars, a pair of weighing springs aligned withl portions of said parallel bars and connected thereto, a rod extending upward from said steelyard rod and arranged centrally between the vbars thereof, saidfrod passing upward beyond and in rear lof said pinion, a forward extension at tlienpper end of said rod, a rack pivoted to said forward extension and depending therefrom, said rack being in mesh with said pinion, and a loopshapedweight arm at the lower eneL of said rack'extending rearward therefrom and embracing said rod.

12. In a scale, the' combination with a base, of a platform lever supported thereon', a platform supporting frame resting `upon said platform lever, a Alrolloivcolumn rising from said base, a cylinder housing at the upper end of said hollow column, a bifurcated cylinder within said cylinder housing, a shaft on which said bifurcated cylinder is mounted, a pinion on said shaft between the furcations of said cylinder, a steelyard rod connected to said lever and extending upward within said hollow column, a weighing spring' connected to said steelyard rod, a iod extending upward from said steelyard Arod above said pinion and in iear thereof, a rack pivotally vattached to the upper end of said rod and depending therefrom, being in" mesh with said pinion, a check rod extending upward from said platform supporting frame and into said cylinder housing, a checklink connected to the upper end of said check rod within said cylinder housing. a bracket arm mount-eden said hollow column extending upward therefrom and forming an anchor for said check link. and va linv r extending from said bracket arm in rear of said rack forming al stop for preventing disengagement of said rack from said pinion.

13. In a' scale, the combination with a cylinder and a pinionv for voperating the same, of a rack engaging said pinion, a rod extending parallel to said rack and pivotally attached to the upper end thereof, a laterally'extending weight arm at the lower endfof said rack for yieldably holding the saine in engagement with said pinion, and ai finger extending between said rack and rod forming a stop for holding the former from disengagement from its pinion.

14. In Ya Scale,-tlie combination with a frame, a cylinder supported thereon and a pinion for rotating said cylinder, of a rack for engaging said pinion, a. rod for actuating said rack pivotally attached to the upper end thereof, a laterally extending Weight arm at the lower end of said rack for yieldably holding the same in engagementwith said pinion, a bracket rigidly )mounted` on aid frame, a linger extending from said bracket between said rack and actuating rod, a rocker bearing on said finger foi` engaging said bracket, and a pair of adjusting inembers for securing saidiinger to said-bracket on opposite sides of said rocker bearing,

whereby relative adjustment of said-securing members will alter the position of said finger relative to said rack.

15. In a scale, a platform Y supporting lever having a wide open frame portion for supporting the platform and engaging the fulcrum and a central arm extending to the steelyardA rod, yspaced barsextending across said open frame portion on opposite Isides of said central arm, an expansible chamber thermostaty located between said spaced bars having its forward end secured to said lever, a rod extending from the free end of said expansible chamber parallel to said central arm, and an adjustable steelyard rod pivot on said arm connected to the outer end of said rod.

16. In a scale, a platform supporting lever comprising an open frame portion having fulcrum pivots and platform supporting pivots on opposite sides thereof and a hollow central arm extending to the'steelyard rod, bars extending longitudinally across said open frame on opposite sides of said central arm, an expansiblechamber therinostat within the space ybetween said bars having-one end thereof `attached to said lever, a rod secured to the free'end of said thermostat and extending within Said hollowV arm, and a pivot Vfor the steelyard'rod connected to the outer end of said rodand adjustahly engaging said arms.

17. Ina scale, the combination with' the platform supporting lever, of a steelyard rod connected thereto, a rotaiycylinder, a pinion for rotating said cylinder, va rack for engaging said pinion, an' extension of said steelyard rod above the center of said cylinder pivotally engaging the upper end of said Vrack and a weight member at the lowerend of .said rack extendingflaterally of the same wherebyV the rod is yieldingly held in engagement with said pinion.

f l8.fIn a scale.the combination with a mounted on said base, a steelyard rod conneeted to said platform lever and extending upward in said hollow Column, a Weighing spring within said hollow column engag- .ing lsaid steelyard rod, a cylinder mounted within said cylinder housing', apinion for rotating said cylinder, a rack for engaging said pinion, an extension of said steelyard rod above said pinion pivotally engaging' the upper end of Said rack and a loopshaped weight member at the lower end of said rack embracing the extension of said steelyard rod.

19. In a Scale` the combination with a platform supporting lever, of a steelyard rod connected thereto, a rotary cylinder, a pinion for rotating said cylinder, a rack for engaging said pinion, an extension of said steelyard rod above the center of said eylinder pivotally engaging the upper end of said rack, means for yieldingly holding said rack in engagement with said pinion, and a finger between said rack and the extension of said steelyard rod for preventing disengagement of said rack and pinion.

20. In a scale, the combination with a platform supporting lever, of a steelyard Vrod connected thereto, a rotary cylinder, a

finger and adjusting screws on opposite sides of said fulerum for adjusting the position of said linger.

In testimony whereof WILLIS E. FINCH. WALTER F. STIMPSON.

affix our signatures. 

